Negotiations To Lure Clinic May Reopen

Negotiations aimed at bringing the services of the Cleveland Clinic to Broward County, which were halted three months ago after local doctors objected, could be reopened next week.

The North Broward Hospital District had been considering a request by the clinic to organize a joint group of doctors that would offer specialized care in Broward for some types of heart ailments and cancer.

The negotiations ended in October when doctors and administrators from the four hospitals in the district asked for time to explain the request to the staff.

At the urging of hospital district board member Sharon Solomon, the board will decide Wednesday if negotiations should be reopened.

``Do you want to continue negotiations, drop it or what? This could go on for six months,`` Solomon said at a board meeting Wednesday.

Carol Reichbaum, director of planning for the district, said physicians at the hospitals were opposed to the clinic.

Solomon said she has heard that the doctors were concerned about the impact the clinic would have on their practices.

In September, doctors at Broward General Medical Center voted overwhelmingly against the clinic.

Sending experts from the clinic to work with doctors who would be hired from the South Florida medical community could improve medical care, said Frank Weaver, public affairs director for the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

In addition to Broward General, the hospitals in the district include Imperial Point Medical Center, North Broward Medical Center and Coral Springs Medical Center, which has a staff but has not yet opened.